How The 1987 Tigers-Braves Trade Shaped MLB History

The Detroit Tigers' decision to acquire veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander in 1987 came at the cost of trading away a future Hall of Famer in John Smoltz.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 5:35pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball pitcher in motion, with sharp planes of color and form representing the complex legacy of the 1987 trade that sent John Smoltz from the Tigers to the Braves.A cubist interpretation of the pivotal trade that altered the Detroit Tigers' championship aspirations.Lansing Today

In 1987, the Detroit Tigers were chasing the American League East division title and made a trade to acquire veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander from the Atlanta Braves. The Tigers sent 20-year-old prospect John Smoltz, a Michigan native, to the Braves in the deal. While Alexander helped the Tigers win the division that year, Smoltz went on to become an eight-time All-Star, Cy Young Award winner, and World Series champion with the Braves, eventually being inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Tigers' decision to trade away the future Hall of Famer Smoltz for a short-term veteran acquisition cost them a chance at potential championships in the 1990s.

Why it matters

The 1987 trade between the Tigers and Braves is a classic case study in the tension between short-term gains and long-term franchise-altering decisions in professional sports. While the Tigers' acquisition of Doyle Alexander helped them win their division that season, their decision to trade away the promising young pitcher John Smoltz ultimately deprived them of a potential Hall of Fame talent who could have anchored their rotation for years to come and potentially led them to championships in the 1990s.

The details

In 1987, the Detroit Tigers were in a tight race for the American League East division title, trailing the Toronto Blue Jays. In a move to bolster their pitching staff for the stretch run, the Tigers traded their 20-year-old pitching prospect John Smoltz, a native of Warren, Michigan, to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for veteran right-hander Doyle Alexander. Alexander went 9-0 down the stretch to help the Tigers win the division, but he retired after the 1989 season. Meanwhile, Smoltz blossomed into one of the dominant pitchers of the 1990s, making eight All-Star teams, winning the 1996 NL Cy Young Award, and helping the Braves win the 1995 World Series. Smoltz finished his career with 213 wins, 3,084 strikeouts, and a 3.33 ERA, earning him induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

  • In 1985, the Detroit Tigers drafted John Smoltz out of Michigan State University.
  • In July 1987, the Tigers traded the 20-year-old Smoltz to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander.
  • In 1995, Smoltz helped the Braves win the World Series championship.
  • In 2015, John Smoltz was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The players

John Smoltz

A native of Warren, Michigan, Smoltz was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in 1985 and later traded to the Atlanta Braves, where he became an eight-time All-Star, Cy Young Award winner, and World Series champion, eventually being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2015.

Doyle Alexander

A 36-year-old veteran pitcher acquired by the Detroit Tigers in the 1987 trade with the Atlanta Braves, Alexander went 9-0 down the stretch to help the Tigers win the division that year, but he retired after the 1989 season.

Detroit Tigers

The Major League Baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan, that made the 1987 trade with the Atlanta Braves that sent prospect John Smoltz to the Braves in exchange for veteran pitcher Doyle Alexander.

Atlanta Braves

The Major League Baseball team that acquired the future Hall of Famer John Smoltz from the Detroit Tigers in the 1987 trade, helping Smoltz develop into one of the dominant pitchers of the 1990s and a key part of the Braves' championship team in 1995.

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The takeaway

The 1987 trade between the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves that sent John Smoltz to Atlanta in exchange for Doyle Alexander serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of sacrificing long-term franchise-building for short-term gains. While the trade helped the Tigers win their division that year, Smoltz's Hall of Fame career with the Braves suggests the Tigers may have missed out on potential championships in the 1990s by trading away such a promising young talent.